The Kenyans have proved to be a powerhouse of running and of snatching big purses at marathons.

I've been fascinated by this dominance by Kenyans, maybe in the same way that British writer Adharanand Finn has been. Finn convinced his wife to quit her job and sell their house in England to go and experience life as an athlete in Kenya, at least for six months. This book is all about his short stint in that country.

Preoccupied with trying to find out the secret that makes Kenyans excel at marathons, he briefly settles in Iten, a village that can safely be called the running capital of the world. Here the author meets many athletes who introduce themselves by a time or achievement - often a world record or an Olympic title - instead of their real names.

The author wakes at dawn and stomps dirt roads with the hope of discovering the secret of this athletic success. Is it running barefoot, the altitude, or their hunger for success?

You might be disappointed that the answer is not what you'd hoped for, but if you are fascinated by Kenyan runners, this book written in beautiful prose will describe how running is at the heart of so many Kenyan lives.

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